Arkansas City, Kan., experienced a cyberattack on its water supply system over the weekend, sparking concern among residents and city officials. The incident, which occurred early Sunday morning, targeted the city’s water treatment facility, although details regarding the nature of the attack remain scarce.
In response to the incident, the city government took precautionary measures to contain the situation, including switching to manual operations and implementing enhanced security measures. While the cyberattack did not result in any disruptions to the water supply or service, city officials are working diligently to restore normal operations at the facility.
City Manager Randy Frazer sought to reassure residents that the safety of the water supply remains uncompromised despite the cybersecurity incident. Additionally, cybersecurity experts and government authorities have been called in to address the situation and facilitate the recovery process.
The news of the cyberattack on Arkansas City’s water supply system comes amidst a concerning trend of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, particularly in the water and wastewater systems sector. In January, Veolia North America fell victim to a ransomware attack that impacted its municipal water division, leading to disruptions in software applications and systems, as well as customer access to billing services.
Similarly, the North Texas Municipal Water District faced a ransomware attack in December, causing disruptions to phone lines and computer networks. The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pa., also came under fire from an Iranian nation-state threat actor, resulting in the compromise of the department’s water pressure regulator.
The prevalence of cyberattacks on water treatment facilities has raised alarm bells across the country, prompting authorities to reevaluate cybersecurity measures and enhance protection strategies. In a notable case from 2021, Wyatt A. Travnichek was arrested for tampering with the Ellsworth County Rural Water District’s public water system in Kansas, highlighting the potential vulnerabilities in these critical infrastructure systems.
As the investigation into the cyberattack on Arkansas City’s water supply system unfolds, residents are urged to remain vigilant and reassured by the city government’s efforts to address the situation swiftly and effectively. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing threats posed by cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and the importance of bolstering cybersecurity defenses to safeguard essential services and systems.